Box-opener



E. LASKOWSKI.

BOX OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11, 1920.

1 ,396, 373, Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

gwuentoc Edward Laskuw 5K1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOX-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application filed. October 11, 1920. Serial No. 416,050.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD LASKOWSKI, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of lVayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Openers, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in box openers.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a box openerwhich is simple in construction, and embodies means for easily pryingopen a lid on a box.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a box opener whichis in itself a separate accessory capable of being easily attached to anordinary box, such as a shoe polishing box, for the purpose offacilitating removal of the cover.

Other objects and advantages of the lid opener, will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a. part of this specification andin which like reference characters designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved lid opener.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of a box, having a lid thereof closedupon the same, and having the improved lid opening means attachedthereto.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a box showing the improved lidopener in the act of prying open a lid.

Fig. 4. is a plan view showing a detail of construction of the improvedlid opener.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the preferred boxconstruction.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the letter A designates a box,such as is preferably used for containing shoe polish, or othersubstances I such as cleansing compounds, and the like,

and having a lid remover B associated therewith for the purpose ofprying open the lid of the box A.

The box A may be of any approved construction, having the container forthe purpose of holding the contents of the box, which container isprovided with the ordinary annular flange 11 upon which the lid 12rests. It is preferred that in the type of box for which the li opener Bis used, a relatively small portion about the circumference of the lowerpart of the lid 12 which rests upon the annular flange 11 shall beupturned, as shown at 13, for the purpose of facilitating the removal ofthe lid, and which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The lid opener B can be integral with the box structure A, however, itis preferred that the same will be detachably associated therewith forthe purpose of using the same, upon other boxes. In the preferredconstruction the lid opener B comprises a substantially U-shaped portion15 having the upstanding legs 16 and 17 thereon, the leg 16 beingprovided upon the upper end thereof with the inturned flange, or pointedportion 18; whereas the upper portion of the leg 17 is provided with theinturned projections 19 which are pointed, and angularly disposed toeach other, to readily conform to the contour of the circumference ofthe box 10. Preferably integral with the upstanding leg 17 is theoutwardly extending hand engaging portion 20, which in reality is widerin cross section than the portion 15 of the clamp. and upon which theportions 19 are formed. The hand engaging portion 20 comprises a section21, which is substantially at right angles to the upwardly extending leg17, and an angled portion 22 disposed at a relatively slight angle tothe portion 21, of the hand engaging portion 20, being provided with anaperture 23 intermediate the free end thereof, and its connection withthe leg 17.

A lever 25 is rotatably, and pivotally connected upon the upper surfaceof the extending portion 20 by means of a loosely connected rivet 26inserted through the aperture 23. The lever 25 is adapted to be rockedupon the projection 20, and for this purpose the lid engaging portion 28of the ever 25 is preferably disposed at an angle to the thumb, or handengaging portion 29 thereof. The lid engaging portion 28 is providedforwardly thereof with an extending portion 30, which is adapted for thepurpose of extending inwardly from the lee: 17, when the lid engaginglever 25 is in an operative position as is shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings.

In order to apply the lid opener, to a closed box, the same is swunglaterally into clamping engagement with the box, having the portion 15disposed under the box, while the upstanding legs 16 and 17 arepositioned substantially parallel with the sides of the box. Theinwardly projecting pointed flange 18 is positioned over the annularflange 11 of the box body 10, while similarly the pointed portions 19 ofthe outwardly extending hand engaging portion 20 are positioned directlyopposite, and engaging the annular flange 11. Since the lever 25 ishorizontally rotatable about its pivot 26, the samevis swung laterallyuntll the inward extension 80 thereof engages beneath the upturnedportion 13 upon the lid 12 of the box, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings. Since the lever 25 is rockably positioned upon the outwardextension 20, due to the angular inclination of the projection 22, andthe hand engaging portion 29; it follows, that upon pressure of thehandor thumb engaging portion 29 of the lever 25 toward the portion 22 ofthe projection 20, that the forward end 28 of the lever will be raised,and due to the engagement of the projection 30 beneath the lid 12, thesame will be pried open, and easily removed.

It is tobe understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, andarrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the sub-joined claims.-

Iclaim: a

1. In a box opener, the combination with a box and a removable cover, ofa rigid substantially U-shaped bracket adapted to have the legs thereofgrip opposite sides of the box and having the portion of the bracketwhich connects said arms engaging beneath the bottom of said box andtrans verselyspa-nning the same, whereby said bracket isdetachablyconnected to said box, and means mounted on one of said legsand operable thereon for engaging beneath the cover when said bracket ismounted on saidboxfor removing said cover.

2. As an article of manufacture, a box opener, comprising a clampprovlded with upstanding legs, said legs having inwardly projectingportions upon the upper end thereof, one of said legs having anoutwardly projecting hand engaging portion thereon and a lever pivotallymounted thereon. 3. In a box opener, the combination with a box having aremovable lid, of a clamp adapted for engagingsaid box, said clamphaving an outwardly extending hand engaging portion thereon, and a leverpivotally carried thereby adapted for oscillation to be insertedintermediate the box and the lid, for rocking movement to remove thelid.

4. In a box opener, the combination with a box having a lid associatedtherewith, of a substantially U-shaped clamp engaging member havingupwardly extending legs thereon, said legs provided at their upper endwith inturned projections adapted to engagesaid box, one of said legsprovided with an outwardly extending projection, having a portionangularly disposed with respect to said leg, and a rocking lever pivotally connected to said outwardly extending portion, and adapted forinsertion intermediate; the box and the lid, to pry open the lid uponrocking movement thereof upon the outward extension.-

5. As an article of manufacture, a box opener comprising a substantiallyUshaped clamping member provided with upstanding legs upon each endthereof, said upturned legs upon their upper portionprovided withinwardly extending pointed flanges, and provided with an outwardlyextending flange, having the outer portion thereof angularly disposed tosaid leg, and a rocking lever, rotatably disposed upon said outwardlyextending portion of the clamping section, and provided with aprojection projecting inwardly from said upwardly extending leg uponwhich said outer extension is formed, said rocking lever having anangularly disposed portion adapted to cooperatewith the angularlydisposed portion of .the outwardly extending proj ecting section of theclamp, for rocking the lever thereon,

EDWARD LASKO /VSKI.

